Plaster cast versus functional bracing for Achilles tendon rupture: the UKSTAR RCT · Conclusions
Conclusions
CC BY 4.0 · NIHR Journals Library · approximately 1 min read
This trial provides strong evidence that early weight-bearing in a functional brace provides similar outcomes to traditional plaster casting and is safe for patients having non-operative treatment of an Achilles tendon rupture. The probability that functional bracing is cost-effective exceeds 95% for the base-case imputed analysis, assuming a cost-effectiveness threshold of £20,000 per QALY. On average, functional brace is associated with lower costs (–£103, 95% CI –£290 to £84) and more QALYs (0.015, 95% CI –0.0013 to 0.030) than plaster cast.
Although UKSTAR provides guidance on the early management of patients, rehabilitation following an Achilles tendon rupture is prolonged and further research is required to define the optimal mode of rehabilitation after the initial cast or brace is removed.
Attribution. Matthew L Costa; Juul Achten; Susan Wagland; Ioana R Marian; Mandy Maredza; Michael Maia Schlüssel et al. (2020). Plaster cast versus functional bracing for Achilles tendon rupture: the UKSTAR RCT. NIHR Journals Library. Copyright © Queen’s Printer and Controller of HMSO 2020. This work was produced by Costa et al. under the terms of a commissioning contract issued by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. This issue may be freely reproduced for the purposes of private research and study and extracts (or indeed, the full report) may be included in professional journals provided that suitable acknowledgement is made and the reproduction is not associated with any form of advertising. Applications for commercial reproduction should be addressed to: NIHR Journals Library, National Institute for Health Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Alpha House, University of Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NS, UK. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. NCBI Bookshelf NBK553707. CC BY 4.0. Original source ↗. Text reproduced from the Bookshelf XML without changing wording; figures, images and supplements are not reproduced.